W. Basketball: Duke's late rally dooms Tar Heels

DURHAM — Duke's senior point guard Abby Waner was 1-for-15 in the first 44 minutes of her last game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

But as any veteran would say it's not how you start the game — it's how you end it.

After guard Jasmine Thomas who scored 10 of the No. 10 Blue Devils' final 16 points hit a runner off the glass with 19.9 seconds left that sent the game to overtime Waner's 3-pointer put the Blue Devils ahead for good with 45.8 seconds left.

The Tar Heels fell 79-81 in overtime Sunday despite 24 points from UNC star senior Rashanda McCants. But her best chance to end it — a layup near the end of regulation —­­­ rolled off the rim.

The teams were evenly matched but Duke held the advantage for most of the game after a 13-1 run midway through first half.

No. 9 UNC (25-5 10-4 ACC) got its chance to get back in the game 8 minutes into the second half.

Trailing by six" Chay Shegog leapt to grab an offensive rebound and drew the fourth foul from Duke's Chante Black on the putback.

""She's a great shot-blocker. … With Chante" she can move" UNC's Jessica Breland said of Black, who played only 18 minutes but finished with four blocks.

With Duke's leading scorer and rebounder sitting on the bench, the lane was all Breland's. She made two crucial blocks and pulled down rebound after rebound while the Tar Heels chipped away at the lead.

Back-to-back Italee Lucas 3-pointers put the Tar Heels ahead 56-54, and for the first time since 8:42 into the first half, the Tar Heels were in control with the lead.

But Duke's zone stymied the Tar Heels all night, so it was no surprise when the Blue Devils (24-4, 11-3 ACC) pulled it again after the last TV timeout and capitalized on yet another UNC turnover.

The Tar Heels again struggled with ball control and finished with a season-high 33 turnovers, including 15 from starting guards Cetera DeGraffenreid and Lucas.

Duke shot only 34.5 percent for the game but made up for it by manhandling UNC on loose balls. Their aggressiveness led to 23 steals and a mammoth 32 offensive rebounds.

That was the critical thing — we often made a first-shot miss" but we had to get the rebound and make sure we got the ball" Duke coach Joanne McCallie said of her team's 54-42 rebounding advantage.

Both teams came out aggressive in overtime and traded baskets back and forth. A 3-point play from freshman Shegog gave UNC a 76-75 edge with 1:45 remaining.

She shut down Duke's Carrem Gray in the post on the next play — but the only other Duke senior left on the court wasn't about to let a freshman spoil her ACC finale.

Waner erased a miserable shooting performance by burying her last 3-pointer from the left wing to put the Blue Devils ahead 78-76.

And after a block and an airball on UNC's next two trips down the court, the result was sealed.

We will use this game as motivation" UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. Everything happens for a reason" and this may be a blessing in disguise — I hope so.""



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